Sofa bed



June 23, 1953 s. PETERSEN E'riu.. l 2,642,584

soFA BED Filed Feb. 15, 1951 4 sheets-sheetv 1l Iruwufrrwmffffmf J7/" l L June 23, 1953 1. s. .PE-rl-:RsEN ETAL SOFA BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1951 June 23, 1953 s., PETERSEN ErAL 2,642,584

SOFA BED Filed Feb. l5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 z5 d] ZW 139 'i TT a5 bed'ready for sleeping.

Patented `lune 23, 1953 isaiassignors to SimmonsCompany,Kenosha,

,Applicati-qnrebruagy 15, 1951;,serialiNaalLros -8Claims.

` "This 1 invention relates lto `sofa -`loedsfand-.isfconcernedparticularly "with improvements fm #sofa beds 'of vra typedisclosed inUnitedStatesPatents l "13S-591,027; -Bryli;1, yand?370,851, iEppensteinji. e., a type of sofa -bedhaving-'a;movablefcouch=or sea't "section which `'is vnormally-partiall-ydisposed :beneath afback restftolform a sofago'fmoreor less normal proportions-fand which vis shiftableto a Lforward positionat which "the entire :area of the lcouch Iorfseat section' ris :available Ifo-r sleeping purposes.' Y

Sofabedsfoff'this typeeare particularly suited for 'Y use '-'in ihotels anddormitories vor the lilre,v be- 'cause the couchforfseatssection of theunit` may remainmadeiupfasfa bedi'duringthe day,l'or Aat -other times "when itiisfdes'ir-edf-to use the sofa ybed 'as a sofa.

Thezcouch section may be covered by a -s'lip-cover :and @disposed beneath ithe .back rest for sofa use without :materially disturbing.

fthelbed'clothes. 'TWhen it isidesire'dito use 'the sofa bed vas -a Ileed, the .couchssection -maybe moved lforwardly by the @person desiring ftoiuse ithe rbed,

`and ithe slip cover removed Ito l:reveala Amaclefup The Vprincipalobjects of fthepresenty invention are to l*provide abedfof thisltypeainrwhich Tthe "couch f or seat section is movable .ato i its forward `sleeping` positionfautomatically:upon f the Y.release 'o'ff fa 'latch xbyv aipersonidesiringfto `usetthelsloed; :tonprcvide fin "an-bed .of A*.ithisztypeva i'rearwardly e -retractable :back rest to facilitate theacleaningpf 'the door fbeneathf the sofaabed to provide :arrimprovedfretractablezbackrrest:.whichvisaconstructed so as to enclose a storage space for beddinggand which will permit `feasy access 'ton-said :storage f, lspace fwithout retracting v:the back irrest; to zproavide fanf improvedzlatch lmechanism for ,maintain- `'ing fsaid "couch 1section and-said' back rest respectively tat their frearwar'd fandxretracted positions,

.fandfurther Vto providenn. improfvedylatch: mechanisrnk which fwillipermit :the `couch :or `seatrsection to "be moved Ifinto fiits ilatched, irearward vsofa Aposition withoutnidisabling athe latch :which is effective to'main'tain thezback'rest atzitsfretractecl p0- sition.

*Other .'.olcljectsfand'v advantages :Willfappearand 4the invention .willibebettergunderstood .with-treference to the following specifications and tozthe accompanying i drawings iin which t there is illus- "trated a preferred :embodiment ofv theV invention.

The above stated objects are achieve'din the illustrated formof a sofafbed 'embodying the 1invention *by providing vrollers 'on the underside ofthe couch section to support the couch-section upon -a ramp-or inclined'tra'ck forming part g2 of 'the Asofa frame. i Theback rest lis constructed of fhingejdly ,connected memberswhich ,per-mit it tobe folded upwardly and rearwardly to 'a rel'fractedv position, at whichitmay leerestrained by an appropriate latch. A vlatch `is `similarly provided `forjnorrnally maintaining :the 'couch or yseat sectionfat its-'rearward position, and iisjsuitboth latches 'may rloereleased `bya :single/operating'leveror handle. fUpon-'releasepf thelatch, thecouch section 'of thesofa bedrollsforwardly by gravity toits extendedfsleeping position. K The illustrated--construction is 'extremely -rugged `and durable, and well adapted to the repeated and sustained use yto which :hotel furniture fis put.

Ailvloreover, the conversion of the 4unit lfrom sofa luse'to bed use is yvery simply accomplished and f vmaybeeasily effectedy by lthejguest himself'withtracted;

out requiring -the xattendance of a rchambermaid or otheroperatingpersonnel.

' In lthe drawings: Figure lris a: perspective view of -an entire sofa -bed i embodyingsthe invention;

'Figure 2 is an-endelevational viewo'fthe sofa 'bed illustrated inf-Figure l, showing by means -of .solid and broken 'lines respectively *the sofa and bed positions of the movablefcouchvsection;

"Figure-B tis Lafront .elevational view, partly sectional, ofthe frame uponzwhichthe couch 'section and=oack-rest are supported,andshowingiinsome -detail vthe rback 4rest construction with its front vpanel :removedsandfwithits upper or shelf memv`loer raisedy and partially.brokenfaway;

Figure f4 is a I fragmentary 1sectional elevational -vievv taken along theflinelll-L-l of `Figure z:9b-show- -ing fin detail the 'resilient bumper' which is en- 'ga-gedV bythe couchsection atiitslatched position.

'.Figure is a sectional elevational view ofthe ,lsupporting frame `andbac'k f rest taken alongf-line :I5-i5 ofFigure; Y

Figure `r6 `:is a "fragmentary, sectional view'fsimi- 'larto Figure andshowing by meansof ybroken flines the shelf :member of the back frest atv-an f elevated :position Figure 7 is a fragmentaryfsecti0nal .view:simi lar vto Figure 6 and showing Ythe'back rest re- "fFi'g-ure f8 is :a :sectional yview taken 'along fthe hnelt-L8 of Figure-7 and showing"ingreaterfde- Itail 'the latch member -forholclingthe backrest -atits retracted position;

"Figure 9 is a fragmentary `plan :View showing fone-end :of f the back rest illustrated in Figure "5;

Figure l0 'is a fragmentary :sectional `View y'of lthe'fframe 'and backrest-Staken @along-line k10V-I 0 the couch-section showing the supporting rollers-V emplaced upon tracks on the supporting frame. The illustrated form of sofa bed embodying the invention includes a generally |A -shaped-support ing frame I5 which comprises an upwardly `ex-V Ytending rear panel |1 and a forwardly extending base panel I9 having mounted thereon a pair of rails or tracks 2| which are inclined downwardly toward the front of the sofa to form a ramp. A retractable' bolster or back rest 23 normallyextends forwardly from the upper portion of the rear frame panel |1, and a couch section 25 is movably supported on the tracks by means of rollers 21 and 28 journalled on its underside. The couch section 25 is shiftable by gravity from a rearward sofa position partially underlying the back rest 23 to a forwardly disposed sleeping position at which the entire area of thecouch section is available for use as a bed u(Fig. 2). Also included is a latch mechanism 29 which is effective to normally retain the couch section 25 at its rearward sofa position and, when desired, to retain the back rest 23 at its retracted position.

Y At one end of the sofa bed, an end panel or arm :fr

rest 3| is secured to the supporting frame in any convenient manner. It will be understood, however, that the arm rest may be secured to the couch section if desired, so as to be movable therewith, and that an arm rest may be provided at 'both ends of the sofa bed rather than at only one end, asV shown in the drawings. One or more cushions 33 may be provided against the back rest to provide resilient back support when the unit is used as a sofa, and these cushions may be attached tothe front face of the back rest Vor may be loose.

Y are open upwardly so that their flanges form guides for retaining the couch-section rollers in the tracks, and the inverted channel members 43 are graduated in height from front to rear of the sofa frame so as to give the tracks 2| the desired inclination. Y

Secured to the rear end of each of the inclined tracks 2| is an upstanding bracket 45 on which there is mounted a forwardly extending locator pin 41, the purpose of which will subsequently appear. Disposed approximately midway along each of the tracks 2| is a stop member or abutlment 49 which normally limits the forward movement of the couch section at the sleeping position 'by engagement with 'the rear supporting rollers 28. However, the couch section may be moved forwardly all the way off the tracks 2|, for example, for cleaning purposes, by simply lifting the couch section until its rear rollers 28 clear the stop member 49. The forward side of the stop member is sloped to permit the rear roller to climb over the stop member when the couch section is returned to its rearward sofa position. Secured to each-of the sidelmembers 3,5 of the base' panel isa pair of feet orfpa'ds'5Iwhich are provided with threaded stems 53 to permit invdividual height adjustment for vthe purpose of ,properly leveling the supporting frame.

The upwardly-extending rear frame panel l1 comprises three vertical post members 55, 56 and 51 v.welded atitheirf lower ends to the rear cross y member 39 of thebase panel and connected together lat their yupper ends by upper and lower transversely-extending bars 59 and 5|. A plural- .ity of spoke members 63 extending between the cross bars form a retaining wall in the upper portion of the rearframe panel .l1 for a purpose later to be described. All of the frame members of the supporting lframe are desirably tubular in Across section in order to obtain maximum rigidity for the weight of materials used.

The back rest 23 includes an Vupper shelf member 65 and inclined back support panel 61.v The back -support Vpanel 61 kisfnorrrially disposed in forwardly spaced relation with.: the rear frame panel |1 by a three-element hinge which includes a forwardly extending hinge plate 69 connected at its rear end by a pintle 1| toA a small hinge plate 13secured to the ,upperl edge of the rear frame panel |1,v and ;a ldownwardly extending hinge plate'lfi connected by a-pintle 11 to the front 'edge of then-'forwardly extending hinge plateV 69.` The back supportpanel 61 may be secured by means of screws to a downwardly extending hinge plate 15. v

The shelf member 65 is pivoted at its rear edge to the upper edge of the rear framepanel |1 by means of a hinge strap 19 (Fig. 3) journalled on the rear hinge pintle 1I. vThe shelf member normally rests upon the-forwardly extending hinge plates 69 and is movable as a unit with the back support panel 61 from its forwardly disposed position to its rearwardly and upwardlyretracted position. However; the separate connection of the shelf member 65 to the rear frame panel |1'permits the shelf member to be raised independently to permit access to the space behind the back support'panel 61 when the latter occupies its'forwardly disposed back-supporting position.

The raising of the shelf member 65 is assisted j 4 pression spring 9| which encompassesthe pin.

or bolt 93 which passes through the slot in the flink.

The lower edge of 'the back support panel 61 is connected'to the rear frame panel I1 by -means of a-pair ofV arms 95 vwhich are pivoted attheir outer Aends to a bracket 91 on the back support panel-61 and secured at their inner ends .to a cross{rod.99 which is journalled at its ends in brackets |ll| secured to the lower cross bar 6| ment .denned byfthe back :support l:panelgfrthe .shelf zmember, and the spokesf'rwhich'vextend fbeytween .the cross bars of .theefrearaframe'g-panel. .This compartment,v :provides convenient storage space v:for :ordinary bed 1 pillows fwn-ich are inor- `mally used'only v:for .sleeping purposes.

y A telescopicflink H31-extendsdiagonallythroug the v space within the backrest `and is pivotally connected at its upper end-to the frcnt'zhinge pintle I'VI-1 and at fits .flower-endto the :bracket 'fl I in'iwhichfthe jcrossrodfe 9", is rjournalled. yTri-econ- .traction of the .telescopicflink |'i1-is1limitedby .thefabutment ofithe inner link--memberwitnthe closedzend ofthe .outermemberiwhen the :back rest .1213 f-assumes .its .normal supporting position, thus enabling the telesccpicalinkptofactgas .a1 brace inzthis position. y v

In thefillustratedformof tsofa bed, lwhich has only one arm frestf.- and gin iwhich :the :backcrest Ydoes not extend forfthefentire length-idf thiessofa bed,'the exposed endof the-.back restrz-ZB-:isiprof Ivided .witha Adoor m9 -hingedaon thevertic-al post member/55 and adapted .to vtit ewithinntbe shelfrnember 65 andback supportxpanelt'i when Athe. back rest .ioccupiesathernormal position;` PS2-it1- able-engaging latchemembers mayfbe provided on 'f v'the door .andi the fbacksupportgpanel itoakeep fthe door closed. Obviously, thedooremustbe .opened .before -.the back t:rest `maybe.-1et1.a;cte,d. The iopposite end of the'back" rest 23 :is yclosed T'by the varnrrest 53| .andby-a' downwardlyxextending@end .It will fbe .apparent that Y.with fthe lalom/.erden scribed .support arrangement,..the :back-:rest ,23 is vnormallym-aintained sin its :forward position, indicated v.in '.Fig. by L the hinge spiate fee v:and the rarms .5 uacting 1v as spacing elements; and .that l.it-maybe fshiftedzupwardly. andi-rearwardly to theposition indicated .inFig '7 at 4-which the back rest maybe retained by meansY ofzthe latch mechanism29. f

The portionvof the latch mechanism 29 which isefective to retain the back rest :23 atits'retracted position comprises -a horizontal operatine; rod H3 vreciprocacly mounted in ybushings H5 contained inthe center post 56 and the outer .post member55 of the rear frameV panel Il. The central portion .l Il .of therodl|3=is .ofsetforwardly to provide clearance for the Vertical spoke memberst which .extend between .thecross bars 59 and 6! of the frame panel, and the rod is provided at its outerffend with an operating handle H5 .which isaccessiblefrom the rsidegof the sofa bed, as shown in Figs. 1 andr2. .Secured to the rod H3 adjacent the central post 5t of therear frame panelv is a-latch memberli (Figs. '7 and 8) lhaving ahook portion lltadaptedto engage the central telescopic link vIEW when .the back rest is retracted. l

*"The forward edge 0I .thehook 23 is .beveled to permit the hook and .operating rod to be .displacedsidewardly by thetelesccpic link ilwhen the back restis urged toward its .retractedposition. Aspring .L25 .surrounding fthe operating rod .and compressed 'between .the .inner .wall .of .the outerposti of .therearframe panell andra engages i' the lower.) forwards-corner cofrithe .supper fcross member.' 15.9 ofthe reariframe: panel toxbrace the:.latch:memberagainst.freamvarddisplacement ,during latching engagement 'fof fthe a'hcokfwith ,thetelescopilink The couch section'xvcomprisesuaemIattreSsor.

upholstered cushion il 3.! `supported `dipen sa libox .spring '1l-3310i more or less:istandaidzconstruction. .'Secured 'tov tneriiundersideof .the cwoodenzifframe of 'fthebo-x @spring ad'i'acentfieither .fend hereof :is :'-a :pair i of spaced-apart tangle ironemembers rLilia :between -fwhich tl'ieV zsupportrol-l'ersel' nd 132 aregjournalled. The rollers .are spaced :apart viniront to :rear xdirection of izthe .sofa b'edf; and, 'referring tolF'ig. 2;-.it willbenotedzthat the-.fiorward' '..rollers 27 .are` spaced substantially;:rearwardlyfgof 'fthe forward fiedgfe- :oftthe couch'f'section 25. This' arrangement isirdesirable ina-order that 4.suiic-ient forward displacement.zofthe/:couch washer |27 pinned .to the operating rod, urges the hook |23 into latching position when the back rest member .isfully retracted. (Fig. 8). The latchA member isiprovi'ded onits upper edge with an .L-shaped .seat .|29 .(Fig. 7) which slidably section :may be obt'aineiwithout:requirin 'that the"forward;rollers f2? leave theitracksl- .to fprevent protrusion tof the ztracksbeyond 'he .forwardtedgeof ttliefcouch section whenitheilatter =is latchedipat its rrearward :sofa :position Inview of the infact, h'owever, 'that thesco'uch section- .is d'esirably constructed irse :fas .toffbeias .light Yintveight as possible, desirablelitotprovide means to prevent upwardtiltin'gmovemet of .the reaivportion io'f'itlreacouch section about Vthe'rotational aXis-:of'theflorwaidrollersz'l:when yweight?fisgplaced on? .the forwardredgefofSthexeouh sect-ion.. :In .theziilustrated embfodiment;i-tl1is"tilting 1 motionA is .',prevented'afwhen 'ithe couch section occupies iits urearward 1 sofa jpositionlfiby;y Yineans'iiii rearwardly :extending ibrack'ets. IS' -securedlto the Vbox :spring 6:33 fandl having upwardly 2eXtentling flanges 39 .provided with:.aperturesfadapted to receive vtheglocatorl pins-'fiflfdisposed atithe. rear- :ward.en'dsoi the trac-ksffZ-I itligs. :.andllli v.On .thefother hand,"fwhen the .lcouch2-1s'ection .25: occupies: its forwardcor sleepingtransition-tilting movement of sche couch .section. is @prevented bymeans-.unless llllzsecuredvato the frame'fdf the box .spring L33 at"fthe. ."`forwa1d'fedge rthereof. These Flegs are '.-desirab'ly lma'de adjustable'anii may, tforfexamplep. comprise a footforpadihaving a .threadedfsten'iireceiveizl within'11ans-appropriate fittingsecured"tolthebox'spring frame. eek nut. ontgthe.threadedistemfservestovmaintainyany .desired igextension iof `#the '.legs. The desirability of making :the iLegs adjustable iwillibe'fapparent :whenitzisfconsidered :'.that the soia bed-.will f normallyfbe :placedeagainstva @wall L'with atleast the forward :edge of .the sofa frame resting Hupon La Arug; fthe thickness :of which imay vary "from one installation tof fanotherso as I.to require thatt-h'e 'leeszbetraised *.fand lowered f'to accommodate this variationinsthickness. To isecurethe :couch section'l25 Y at its I`rearward sofarposition, :thereiisprovided on thefrear -si`de .of.the:b.ox spring lframe..aueshapedfbracket A43, best .shown in ilFg. 10, which is #en-gageabl'e with an upwardly displaceablelatch-bar M5 -reciprocablyimounted on thefrear iframe panel 1'1. .The latchfbar-islsupported adjacentits lower end `byaifbracket 'll secured to-'the central post 5B fframe panel.

the form of a plunger the underside of the lower cross bar 6| and a 4moved sufficiently rearwardly.

The upper end of the latch bar |45 is pivot- Qally connected by means of a pin-and-slot'lost -motion connection 55 to one arm of a bell crank |51 pivoted on the central post 56 of -the rear The other arm of the bell crank is pivotally vconnected to the inner end of the operating rod ||3 on which the back rest latch hook |23 is mounted. It will be apparent by inspection -of Fig. 3 that an outward pull on the operating handle ||9 is eiective to unlatch the back rest .and couch section simultaneously. However, the

lost motion connection between the latch bar |45 and the bell crank |51 permits the couch section to be moved rearwardly into latched position without disabling the back-rest latch. This arrangement of the latches is desirable since when the back rest 23 is retracted and the couch ing of the couch section into its latched, rearvward position, there is provided in the central post 56 of the rear frame panel a resilient bumper "which engages the rear wall of the box spring apptroliimately simultaneously with the engagement of the U-shaped latch bracket |43 with the vertical latch bar |45. The bumper takes |59 which is slidably mounted in a suitable housing |6| secured within the central post 56 (Fig. 4). spring |63 urges the plunger forwardly against an apertured cover plate |65 secured to the front of the post 56. Shoulders |61 formed on the plunger |59 engage the rear side of the cover plate to retain the plunger within the housing |6I. In addition to cushioning the movement of the couch section into its rearward, latched position, the bumper Vrincidentally assists the weight of the couch section in overcoming friction to initiate forward movement of the couch section when its latch has been disabled.

During ordinary daytime use of a sofa bed embodying the invention, the couch section will normally be made up as a bed, covered Ywith an appropriate Slipcover and disposed at its rearward sofa position, as indicated in Fig. 1. When the guest or occupant of the hotel or dormitory room in which the sofa is located desires to retire, he needs only to pull the latch handle ||9 whereupon the couch section moves forwardly by gravity to the sleeping position. The guest then removes the slipcover to exposea made-up bed, ready for sleeping.

If the back cushions 33 rest loosely against 'the back support panel of the back rest, it will,

of course, be necessary to remove them before the couch section is permitted to move to its forward position, but as previously mentioned, these cushions may, if desired, be secured to the back support panel 61 of the back rest. Toobtain the bed pillows, the guest merely raises the shelf member 65 of the back rest which gives him access to the compartment in which these pillows will normally be stored. vThus, from the point of view of the guest, the conversion of the A compression 8 sofa bed from'sofa to sleeping use is extremely simple and may be performed at will by the guest himself without requiring assistance from the hotel personnel.

The sofa bed will normally be restored to sofa use in the morning by the chambermaid who simply remakes the bed, replaces the Slipcover,

and moves the couch section rearwardlyk to Vits latched, sofa position. If the back support cushions are not attached to the back rest, they are replaced on the couch section and the bed Vpillows are again stored in the compartment within the back rest.

bed it is desired to shift the couch section forwardly of the normal bed position, this maybe done by lifting ythe rear edge of the couch section to permit the'rear rollers 28 to clear the stop members 49, whereupon the couch section may be shifted forwardly clear of the sofa frame. To further facilitate access to the floor space beneath the couch section, the entire back rest may be retracted upwardly and rearwardly, and automatically latched in its retracted position. When the cleaning has been completed, the couch section may be shifted rearwardly back onto the track, over the stop members and into its latched rearward sofa position,- Because of the lost motion connection |55 between the couch section latch bar |45 andthe bell crank |51, the back rest latch |23 is not disabled during the latching engagement of the couch seetion with its associated latch bar |45 but rather retains the back rest at its retracted elevated position. To restore the back rest to its normal, Y

forwardly-extending position, the chambermaid pulls outwardly on the handle I9 which disengages the hooked latch member |2| from the telescopic spacing link |01, permitting the back rest to descend by gravity to its normal position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a sofa bed embodying the present invenvtion is one which may be simply and practically entirely automatically converted from'sofa to bed use with a very minimum of effort and with no special acquaintance with the sofa bed mech- Vanism. As such, it is, therefore, a unit of convertible furniture which recommends itself particularly for use in hotels and other transient lodgingsrand for school dormitories or the likev -where it is desirable, in the interest of appearance and space economy, to provide sleeping ao- Y and a ramp portion extending forwardly and downwardly from the lower rear portion of said frame, a couch section movably supported on said'gramp portion, releasably interengageable latch'members on said frame and said couch section for holding said couch section at a rearward position on said ramp portion with said couch section partially underlying saidv back rest to form a sofa, said couch section being shif'table by its own weight, upon release of said latch member, to a forwardly disposed position to expose substantially the entire area of said couch section for sleeping purposes, and means 9 for effecting disengagement of said latch members.

2. A sofa bed comprising a normally stationary sofa frame including an upwardly extending back portion and a forwardly extending'base portion, a back rest positioned forwardly of the upper end of said back portion, a pair of spaced" parallel tracks supported on said base portion and extending forwardly ancl downwardly from said back portion, a couch section having rollers journalled on .its underside for movably supporting said couch section on said tracks, a latch member on said frame engageable with said couch section forhol'ding said-couch sectionv at a rearv ward position on said trackswifth` said couch section partially underlying said back rest to form a sofajsaid couch section being shiftablel by'i'rs own weight upon release of said latch member to a forwardly disposedr position to exposek substantially the entire area of said couch section for sleeping purposes and means for effecting disengagement of said latch member.

3. A sofa bed comprising a normally stationary sofa frame including an upwardly extending back portion and a forwardly extending base portion, a back rest positioned forwardly of the upper end of said back portion, a pair of spaced parallel tracks supported on said lbase portion and extending forwardly and downwardly from said back portion, a couch section having journalled on its underside a plurality of rollers for movably supporting said couch section on said tracks, a releasable latch member on said frame engageable with said couch section for holding said couch section at a rearward position on said tracks with said couch Section partially underlying said back rest to form a sofa, said couch section being shiftable by its own weight upon release of said latch member to a forward position at which substantially the entire area of said couch section is exposed for sleeping purposes, a stop member on said frame for limiting forward movement of said couch section at said forward position, the forwardmost ones of said rollers being disposed substantially rearwardly of Ithe forward edge of said couch section, inter-engageable stop members on said frame and on the rear edge of said couch section for preventing upward tilting movement of said rear edge by weight placed on the forward edge of said couch section when said couch section occupies said rearward position, and an adjustable leg member at the front edge of said couch section for preventing said tilting movement when said couch section occupies said forward position.

4. A sofa bed comprising a normally stationary sofa frame including a back rest extending forwardly from the upper rear portion of the frame and a forwardly and downwardly inclined ramp portion extending downwardly from the lower rear portion of the frame, a couch section movably supported on said ramp portion, releasably interengageable latch members on said frame and said couch section for holding said couch section at a rearward position on said ramp portion with said couch section partially underlying said back rest to form a sofa, said couch section being shiftable by its own weight upon release of said latch members to a forwardly disposed position to expose substantially the entire area of said couch section for sleeping purposes, resilient means interposed between said frame and said couch section and effective only during the initial portion of the forward movement of 10 saidy couch section to urge said" couch section forwardly. l

5. In a sofa bedhaving a seat section andan upwardly extending frame portion behind said seat section; a retractable back rest normally overlying a rear portion of said4 seat section to 'form therewith a sofa, said back restr comprising a back support member normally disposed forwardly of said frame portion, upper and lower spacingmembers pivoted .to back support member and; to said frame portion for maintaining said back-support member at its forward position, an extensible link connected at one end to said back rest adjacent the pivotal connection of said upper spacing member and said back support member and at its other end to said frame portion adjacent' the pivotal connection of said lower spacing member to said frame portion, said back rest being shiftable rearwardly and upwardly about the pivotal connections of said spacing members to said frame portion to a retracted elevated position, and a releasable latch on said frame portion engageable with said extensible link to hold said back rest in said retracted position.

6. In a sofa bed having a seat section and an upwardly extending frame portion behind said seat section; a retractable back rest normally overlying a rear portion of said seat section to form therewith a sofa, said back rest comprising a back support member normally disposed forwardly of said frame portion, upperand lower spacing members pivoted to said back support member and to said frame portion for maintaining said back support member at its forward position, said lower spacing member including a panel adapted to provide a floor for the space behind said back support member, an extensible link connected at one end to said back rest adjacent the pivotal connection of said upper spacing member and said back support memberand at its other end to said frame portion adjacent the pivotal connection of said lower spacing member to said frame portion, an upper shelf member hinged adjacent its edge to said rear frame portion and adapted to form a closure for said space, said back rest being shiftable upwardly and rearwardly to a retracted, elevated position, and a releasable latch -on said frame portion engageable with said extensible link to hold said back rest in said retracted position, said shelf member being independently shiftable to provide access to said space when said back support member occupies its normal forwardli7 disposed position. l

7. A sofa bed comprising a normally stationary Isupporting frame, an upwardly and rearwardly retractable back rest normally extending forwardly from the upper rear portion of said frame, a seat section shiftably supported on said frame for movement from a rearward sofa position partially underlying said back rest to a forward position on said frame at which substantially the entire area of said seat section is available for sleeping purposes, means urging said seat section toward said forward position, a releasable latch member on said frame engageable with said seat section to hold the latter at said rearward position, a second releasable latch member on said frame engageable with said back rest to hold the latter at said retracted position, manually operable means for releasing both said latch members, and :a lost motion connection between said latch members whereby said seat section may be shifted into its rearward position to engage 11 said first mentioned latch member without releasing said second latch member.

8. A sofa bed comprising a normally stationary supporting frame, an upwardly and rearwardly retractable back rest normally extending forwardly from the upper rear portion of saidframe, a seat section shiftably supported on said frame for movement from a rearward sofa position partially underlying said back rest to a forward p0- sition on said frame at which substantially the entire area of said seat section is available for sleeping purposes, means urging said seat section toward said forward position, a Vertical reciprocable latch -bar on said frame adapted to engage said seat section to hold the latter at said rearward position, a horizontally reciprocable latch bar on said frame adapted to engage said back rest to hold said back rest at said retracted position, Separate resilient means urging said latch bars toward their engaging positions, a bell crank pivoted on said frame and having an arm connected to each of said latch bars, a handle connected to said horizontal bar for releasing both of said latches, one of said connections of said bars to said crank being a lost motion connection whereby said 4seat section mai7 be shifted into its rearward position to engage said vertical latch bar without releasing said horizontal latch bar.

JOHN S. PETERSEN.

HARRY E. COSI-TUN.

References,Y cited in the fue of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,359,027 Bryld Nov. 16, 1920 1,946,822 Turner Feb, 13, 1934 20 2,370,851 Eppenstein Mar. 6, 1945 

